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A Harpist (c.2800BC)

The goddess Athena was associated with dance and with music. It is said that she was the first to invent the aulos, the first wind instrument. However when she saw her reflection when she was playing it, she didn't like the look of her face so she threw it down to the Earth where it was picked by a shepherd. She was also the first one to dance rattling her weapons, the proud, war-like dance they call the pyrrhikhê or pyrrhikhios. Some say that she first did this dance at her birth, others that it was in celebration of her victory in the Gigantomachy, the great battle between the Gods and the Giants in which she played an important part. Of mortal men, it was the hero Bellerophontes who first danced this dance, to honor the owl-eyed goddess.

An excerpt from the Hellenic enoplios khoros (armed dance) pyrrhikhê which has survived to our time in the region of Pontos. It is believed to have been first danced by the goddess Athena. The dancers join hands and move their hands and feet in synchronized violent, abrupt motions. The dance slowly builds up to a frantic pace, incited by the lyre-player who stands at the center of the circle and urges the dancers with cries and teases. This is an excerpt from "The Greek Folk Instruments: Lyra" Produced by F.M. Records; G. Amarantidis plays the pontic lyra.

Another pyrrhikhê in Real Audio format. This clip was taken from http://www.pontos.org/, a site dedicated to the hellenism of Pontos. Igia ki evlogia!

Another fast-paced pointic dance in Real Audio format. It features both lyra and phlogera which is a type of flute. This clip was also taken from http://www.pontos.org/, a site dedicated to the hellenism of Pontos. The Pontic Greeks (of which I am one) are mostly of Ionic origin. The major cities of Pontos were colonies of the city of Miletos and were founded during the second colonization (about 8th century BC).

Another enoplios khoros, this one from Thrace. It features askaulos the piercing sound of which resembles that of the ancient aulos. Note how the dancers shout and yell at each other, building up their spirits to an ecstatic frenzy. This excerpt is from a composition by Petros Tabouris and can be found in "Music of Greek Antiquity" Produced by F.M. Records; Yannis Dobridis plays the askaulos.

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